Northern Finland and Sweden have a strong extractive industry that supplies the EU with many of the major commodities needed in the modern society, e.g. iron, copper, zinc, lead, chromium, nickel, silver and gold. Luleå University of Technology in Sweden and Oulu University in Finland together have over 30 000 students, more than 3000 researchers and teachers, and 350 professors. Both universities have a strong tradition in education and research related to all aspects of mining from geology to the environment. The region has an excellent environment to establish state of the art education within advanced mining and mineral technology, and stimulate new knowledge within areas where Sweden and Finland are competitive on a global scale.

To enhance this innovative environment Luleå University of Technology and Oulu University jointly have set up a powerful Nordic competence centre for exploration, mining, minerals processing and metallurgical education called the Nordic Mining School (NMS). The centre will focus on:

Improving the quality in education related to mining and metallurgy primarily at a masters level

Stimulate contacts, remove borders and make mobility between Sweden and Finland easier

Play an important role in the development and integration of new business partnerships in the region

Make the joint university environment in the region more attractive, also for international students

Attract further resources to the universities

The main goals of the school will be:

Increase the cooperation within education between Luleå University of Technology and Oulu University – as well as the cooperation with industry, governments and other organisations in the region

Increase the quality and efficiency among the participating institutions by opening up courses, libraries and other facilities to masters students, teachers and researchers, and establish new joint strategies in education and research